Cavaliers easily take down Sixers 108-94
BY STONE LEXINGTON
CAVALIERS BEAT WRITER
(CLEVELAND, OH) - The Cleveland Cavaliers attempted to do something on Wednesday night they had only done once this season: win three straight home games. Mission accomplished.
The Cavs defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 108-94 on Wednesday, their fourth victory in their last five games.
“I think there’s been a concerted effort to a man to just go out and get after it a little bit harder,” Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “There’s an energy that’s building, and you don’t want to be the one guys who’s not participating in it.”
The Cavs controlled the game throughout, as Philadelphia never secured a lead on the evening. Cleveland led 28-17 when the first quarter ended and by a 55-44 margin at the half; and after Sixers star Joel Embiid left the game in the first quarter with a sprained shoulder, Philadelphia couldn’t recover.
When Kevin Love drained a three-pointer with 6:29 remaining in the third quarter, the Cavs had taken their largest lead of the game, 70-50. It looked like Cleveland would cruise to an easy victory, but the Sixers closed the gap to as little as five points in the fourth quarter. They never came any closer.
Collin Sexton led the Cavs with 28 points, while Tristan Thompson, who started in place of an injured Andre Drummond, recorded his 25th double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Larry Nance Jr. also recorded a double-double, his 10th of the season, finishing with 13 points and a season-high 15 rebounds.
“For us, it’s about finding the combinations that fit best, who plays well with one another,” Bickerstaff said. “We’re trying to put five-man lineups on the floor that can be the best that they can possibly be.”
Without Embiid the 76ers were pounded on the boards, outrebounded 49 to 32.
Shake Milton led Philadelphia with 20 points, four rebounds and three assists.
The Cavs will attempt to win their fifth game in six tries in New Orleans against the Pelicans on Friday.
POSTED 02/26/2020 22:15
Lake County Sentinel
